Sacraments

1
Sacraments

• Sacred act, instituted by Christ, which uses
  earthly element to bring Gods grace.
• Means of Grace
• RC has different definition - baptism, penance,
  confirmation, Eucharist, ordination, marriage,
  extreme unction.

2
Baptism

• Brings all Christs work into peoples lives.
• forgiveness, life, salvation

3
Baptism

• Rescued from powers of darkness.
• Forgiven children of God born again as new
  children into Gods family
• Washed clean
• Drowned and risen with Christ Romans 6 daily
  journey.
• Become citizens of heaven.
• New creation, produce good fruit.

4
What is Baptism?
LUTHERAN STATEMENTS What God does for me Gods
gift, Gods action God claims me as his own God
washes me perfectly clean My old life is
drowned (buried with Christ) and replaced with
new life (resurrected with Christ) Rom
61ff Gospel made visible The gift of faith
itself!

• BAPTIST STATEMENTS
• Baptism is an outward expression of an inward
  change
• Submission to God
• A symbolic retelling of the Gospel
• An act of obedient discipleship.
• A public declaration of a persons faith
• God comes to the believer and grants faith, while
  the believer gratefully receives the gift of
  faith and celebrates it in baptism.

5
This means

• What I do and how I do it is of primary
  importance
• The persons faith is important
• It would be strange indeed to baptise infants

What I do and how I do it is of secondary
importance The emphasis is on Gods gift of faith
rather than the persons faith It would be
strange indeed not to baptise infants
Lutherans baptise infants as if they are adults
and adults as if they are infants.
6
My Infant Baptism

• When I doubt, baptism is the foundation of faith.
  Gods action
• When I am confident, it keeps me from becoming
  proud. Not MY faith!

7
Eucharist

• Also lots of images
• Meal of thanksgiving Jesus invites me to join
  him celebrating my place in his family.
• I join with other unworthy people, dining with my
  Gods family
• Passover meal, celebrating the Lamb.

8
Eucharist

• Meal of thanksgiving Jesus invites me to join
  him celebrating my place in his family.
• Meal for Christian pilgrims on the way to heaven,
  until he comes 1 Cor 1126.
• Marriage Feast of the Lamb Rev 199

9
Eucharist

• Sign of new covenant new people of God.
• Meal of remembrance Jesus comes to us again.

10
Eucharist

• different terms Lords Supper, Mass
  Sacrament of the Altar, Eucharist Breaking
  of Bread
• Biblical basis Gospel accounts (e.g. Matthew
  2626ff Mark 1422ff Luke 2219ff) , and 1
  Corinthians 1123 - 25

11
Eucharist

• it is based on Christs promise and comfort
• brings past and eternity to the present
• we need support
• it is Gospel made visible
• we are worthy when we come unworthily
  (recognising our need)
• c.f. practices of close communion and
  responsible communion

12
HC offers We need to

• Gods Grace
• Forgiveness
• Life
• Salvation
• The true body and blood of our crucified Lord for
  the strengthening of our .

• acknowledge our need for Gods grace
• recognize our sin
• desire new life
• recognize we cant save ourselves

13
Nothing is required of a person in the sacrament
that God does not give in the sacrament. That is
to say, here God only gives and he requires
nothing. Since the Lords supper requires faith
and gives faith, it is altogether a gift. We
need add nothing to Gods grace. We need merely
accept and receive his gift. It is literally
placed in our mouth. (Luther)
14
Journal

• There's this guy who suffers from autism. He
  comes to our church, but I am sure that he does
  not understand much of what is going on. But he
  rocks up each Sunday and joins in with the
  service and receives Holy Communion. I wonder
  what he gets out of it?